Rules Holding the ball. Eliminate prior opportunity. Penalty. Clear congestion.

[Hoops]

Take possession earlier so they have prior rather than intentionally generate a stoppage

So you're saying that players wait to take possession so they can get tackled without prior. Not sure about that.

 

[Alberto_Magnifico]

So you're saying that players wait to take possession so they can get tackled without prior. Not sure about that.

It sometimes happens when players are out of position or don't have enough support around them.

 

[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

The prior opportunity rule isn't "prior opportunity to dispose of the ball cleanly to your teammate who is in the best position". Umps give them way too much time, ie they call "no prior" and ball it up way too often. The amount of time a player needs to dispose of the ball when they want to rather than trying to absorb or break the tackle and find the best option is miniscule. There should still be prior opportunity but it should be very much shorter than they are currently being allowed before they are deemed to have had prior.

I believe the umpire's are instructed that if a player looks like they might break the tackle or are about to dispose of the ball to give them an opportunity to do so.
Makes sense given that some players, like a Cripps for instance, seem to get more time. He always looks like he's about to break the tackle or is a split second away from dishing off a handball.

 

[Area51]

I believe the umpire's are instructed that if a player looks like they might break the tackle or are about to dispose of the ball to give them an opportunity to do so.
Makes sense given that some players, like a Cripps for instance, seem to get more time. He always looks like he's about to break the tackle or is a split second away from dishing off a handball.

You've missed the point. I'm talking about prior opportunity which happens before they get tackled not after.

 

[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

You've missed the point. I'm talking about prior opportunity which happens before they get tackled not after.

I haven't missed anything and nothing you have said changes what I said.

 

[Area51]

I haven't missed anything and nothing you have said changes what I said.

Ignore.

 

[Cripps 'n' Blue Bloods]

Ignore.

That's pretty soft.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Simple. If you get caught holding the ball, regardless if you had opportunity to dispose of it or not, penalty. You watch how quick players tap the ball on or drop it. No more passages of play where the ball cant be cleared because players just pretend to fall on the ball and cant dispose of it. No more pretending to try and punch the ball they are holding.

If your team mate passes you a stupid ball and you get tackled with it, bad luck.

If you are on the ground and pull the ball in... youre toast. Penalty.

You watch how quick that would end congestion.

.

Already been through this at length.

You’re completely correct btw.

It’s the only way to properly fix congestion.

If a player gets tackled then

- he shrugs the tackle off

- he disposes of the ball

- he’s tackled illegally and gets a free kick

… or it’s holding the ball.

It’s the way the game was designed, and very good reason.

The endless rugby pile-ons then balling it up is what creates congestion.

Ending congestion

The AFL has trialled and implemented all types of new rules to ease congestion and get the ball moving. I reckon the one that would make the biggest difference is staring us right in the face. Look at what happens now at EVERY contested situation. Ball-up around the ground? The ruckmen tap it...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[AstonSouffle]

So if I player puts their body on the line, picks the ball up, and gets up - without even getting balanced yet to dispose of the ball and they get tackled you want that to be holding the ball?

 

[gungho]

Simple. If you get caught holding the ball, regardless if you had opportunity to dispose of it or not, penalty. You watch how quick players tap the ball on or drop it. No more passages of play where the ball cant be cleared because players just pretend to fall on the ball and cant dispose of it. No more pretending to try and punch the ball they are holding.

If your team mate passes you a stupid ball and you get tackled with it, bad luck.

If you are on the ground and pull the ball in... youre toast. Penalty.

You watch how quick that would end congestion.

.

Agreed! This change needs to happen. Have been saying for a while now that one black and white rule is the only way to:

• Remove all grey area and confusion.
• Clear congestion around the ball.

The naysayers will come out with their predictable counter argument that nobody will then try to win the ball for fear of being penalised but this is the AFL for god's sake. If you can't win the ball, you won't win games.

 

[gungho]

So if I player puts their body on the line, picks the ball up, and gets up - without even getting balanced yet to dispose of the ball and they get tackled you want that to be holding the ball?

Yes. Exactly. Having the ability to dispose of the ball quickly (whether on the ground or on your feet, whether balanced or not) is an incredibly valued skill. The elite guys at this - Neale, Walsh, Brodie types, should be rewarded. If you get caught you need to improve your speed or strength.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

The prior opportunity rule isn't "prior opportunity to dispose of the ball cleanly to your teammate who is in the best position". Umps give them way too much time, ie they call "no prior" and ball it up way too often. The amount of time a player needs to dispose of the ball when they want to rather than trying to absorb or break the tackle and find the best option is miniscule. There should still be prior opportunity but it should be very much shorter than they are currently being allowed before they are deemed to have had prior.

The line between prior and no prior is quite razor thin… often talking a split second for the umpire to work out with 70,000 fans screaming in the background. Tough job to get it perfect. Umpires need to be full time wages for starters not part time

 

[geelong_crazy26]

So if I player puts their body on the line, picks the ball up, and gets up - without even getting balanced yet to dispose of the ball and they get tackled you want that to be holding the ball?

Why would anyone want to play a contested game then?? Everyone would sit back waiting for the other team to win it then swarm. No reward for going in and winning it

 

[Dogs till i die]

Don't like it. Would prefer they were stricter on incorrect disposal. Like tackled with no prior and the ball is knocked out, penalise that.

You can't penalise a player who hasn't made a mistake or done anything wrong. You want to penalise a player who is tackled immediately and hasn't had the time to dispose of the ball? You want to penalise a player who has the ball knocked out of his hands by a good tackle? That's not incorrect disposal. Even without a free, the tackler is rewarded by dispossessing the player with the ball.

No player will want to take possession of a "hot" ball if he will be penalised without given a chance to dispose of the ball. I'm talking here where there is no "prior opportunity".

 

[jarrod_island_doggies]

So if I player puts their body on the line, picks the ball up, and gets up - without even getting balanced yet to dispose of the ball and they get tackled you want that to be holding the ball?

Ridiculous isn't it - OP has obviously never played a game before

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Want to eliminate congestion? Stop paying everything that goes out of bounds as deliberate.

Congestion got worse when they started cracking down as teams stopped keeping players in position - why do you need to, you're most likely going to get the ball back anyway.

 

[AstonSouffle]

You know what, to all you people that don’t play you shouldn’t comment - introducing HTB for no prior would destroy the game from junior through to senior. Absolutely shatter it to pieces and we’ll get no talent.

Yes you want congestion reduced at AFL level but there’s more to it than that, think about the widespread consequences.

Because what you’re really saying is that a lil kid brave enough to get in and grab the footy deserves to have a free kick paid against him. Think about what this would look like in 20 years time when you’ve built rules to encourage not going for the ball.

 

[terrybull]

Rule modify insteadi : If your team mate hand passes to you and you are immediately tackled then there it’s HB because of your team mate stupidity.

Other no prior situations leave them as it it unless you want the game to develop to soccer…